France is the only country to have a humanitarian airline. This month of April, Aviation sans frontières will have marked the news by taking on board one of its sponsors: astronaut and airline pilot Thomas Pesquet. But beyond transporting medicines or doctors to Africa, other players are getting involved. However, the sector lacks volunteers.
An airline like the others, but not quite all the same. With only two Cessna aircraft (bush planes and difficult terrain), Aviation Without Borders is the only non-governmental organization (NGO) in the world to hold an air transport certificate.
Transporting medicines on a voluntary basis in Africa has made me useful, it has changed my life!
Gérard Feldzer, President of Aviation Without Borders.
Gérald Feldzer, president of Aviation sans frontières, is an appeal for goodwill. As he points out, his organization needs volunteer pilots. Professionals to operate the aircraft, but also staff to train young recruits in loading and logistics. Each year, the NGO transports nearly 8,400 medical packages and 20 tons of goods (clothing, food, basic necessities, etc.). “ I discovered the joy of returning from a mission, explains Gerard Feldzer, with the satisfaction of having given meaning to my life and that of children or people in need. So many memories… In Somalia, in Mozambique, sometimes we were even shot! We have several possibilities, either we fly planes loaned by major airlines, or we take our two Cessna planes to go outside the capitals, in remote, inaccessible areas. I encourage all my colleagues, including young people in aviation school, to come on their holidays to learn how to fly with us. »
France at the head of humanitarian aviation
Elsewhere in the world, only the United States has the equivalent of Aviations sans frontières with Aviation Fellowship, a Christian organization. In France, there is also the Pilotes Voluntaires association, which mainly operates at sea. foreign branches within Aviation sans frontières International.
The Airbus Foundation and the Little Engineers
For ten years, the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has been supporting schools in Africa (Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, etc.) but also in the United States and the Middle East. Through the Little Engineers program, the Airbus Foundation encourages young girls and boys to pursue scientific careers.
Hanya Tabet is Head of Programs at the Airbus Foundation: “ The children in our Little Engineers programs are 15 or 16 years old. And you know, they are real aviation and space conquest enthusiasts! With the ecological challenges, we are going to need engineers to build future less polluting devices. It is a joy to see them take an interest and be ecstatic in front of the prowess of robotics and even mathematics. They discover their future professions, their own destiny. »
SOS humanitarian hospital planes
The need exists. But the cost of a hospital plane is too high for an NGO like Aviation sans frontières. The call is launched. Perhaps there is the possibility of a future collaboration between the industry and the humanitarian aviation which dreams of it…